Chapter 47: Chapter 47
Nathan’s POV
Kyra shoved me away with a strength that made my wolf, Alaric, whimper in my mind. "We deserve this," he growled mournfully. She hadn’t believed my declaration of love—didn’t believe her Alpha. It was too late. The Moon Goddess must have been laughing at me now—a fool who realized his true love only after driving her away.
She didn’t want to see me anymore. I couldn’t turn back time, but I wanted another chance to make things right. I was already with the person I was supposed to end up with, but I ruined everything because of my stupid feelings for Sophia.
"Where have you been?"
Sophia’s sharp voice pierced my thoughts as I entered the new house my mother had gifted us after the engagement. The place reeked of Sophia’s cloying floral perfume—nothing like Kyra’s natural orange blossom scent, which had always calmed my wolf. Every corner of our old house still smelled like her, which was why I’d avoided it... until this week.
"Three days hiding in our house," Alaric reminded me bitterly. "Three days surrounded by her scent, remembering what we threw away."
I swallowed hard, moving toward the kitchen. Sophia followed like a shadow, her heels clicking aggressively. "I’m asking you, Nathan. Where have you been? The pack’s been asking for their Alpha!"
I had spent those days drowning in memories—Kyra’s laugh echoing through our old bedroom, the way she’d run her fingers through my hair after sex.
"My head is splitting, Sophia," I muttered. "We’ll talk tomorrow."
"I don’t care about your headache!" she screamed, her wolf flashing gold in her eyes. "Answer me now!"
"Nathan!" Sophia’s shriek made Alaric snarl in my mind. Her lack of concern for her Alpha’s well-being would have earned her discipline in any proper pack.
"Kyra would already have your tea brewing," Alaric taunted me. The comparison was cruel but true. Kyra would worry about me and make sure I drank my migraine medicine whenever I mentioned a headache. Sophia and Kyra were very different, and I couldn’t compare them because, in every aspect, Kyra was, and always would be, better. Why hadn’t I realized it sooner?
"Did you meet your bitch of an ex-Luna again? Huh?" Sophia spat.
My forehead creased and I lost control. Alpha power radiated from me as I turned, making her flinch. "Enough! I said I’m unwell!"
"I DON’T CARE!" Her voice turned shrill, tears streaking her makeup. "NATHAN! WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS TO ME? WHY ARE YOU HURTING ME WHEN YOU USED TO TELL ME THAT YOU LOVE ME?"
"Since I rejected you back then, you’ve never marked me or established a bond with me after we reunited. Why? Is it because you still have feelings for that Luna you abandoned?" Tears rolled down her cheeks, making me feel even more guilty.
I was at a loss for words. I swallowed hard as guilt gnawed at my conscience. Yes, I told her I loved her, but I was too stupid to say those words while longing for Kyra. I had given my word to Sophia. I told her I would keep on loving her and give her the life she deserved, but I didn’t know that while I was trying to fulfill my promise to her, my feelings for Kyra would resurface helplessly.
"Shh, I’m sorry," I murmured.
"No! Tell me the truth!" Sophia grabbed my shirt, her claws pricking through the fabric. "You saw her, didn’t you? You think I wouldn’t scent Kyra all over you?" Her voice broke. "We’re engaged, Nathan. The packs are expecting our mating ceremony!"
"Exactly!" I growled. "We’re already engaged. You demanded the most expensive mating ring in the territory—I gave you that. You wanted the grandest engagement feast the packs have ever seen—I provided that. What more could you possibly want?"
"An heir! I want to carry your Alpha heir, Nathan!"
The words hit me like a silver bullet. Alaric whimpered as images of Kyra’s swollen belly flashed in my mind—carrying Kieran Carver’s pup instead of mine. How had things gone so wrong? Kyra used to despise Kieran, yet now she carried his child while my wolf still recognized her as our mate.
"We failed her," Alaric mourned in my mind. "Now another Alpha’s scent marks what should have been ours."
"Your grandmother demands a strong heir to continue the bloodline," Sophia pressed, her wolf flashing in her eyes. "Your father insists we conceive before the mating ceremony. Yet you refuse to even touch me!"
I turned away, unable to bear her accusing stare. "Perhaps the Moon Goddess hasn’t blessed us with the right timing—"
"When will it be right?" she shrieked. "When Kyra steals you back completely?"
At her name, Alaric snarled protectively. "Leave Kyra out of this," I warned, my Alpha power flooding the room. "This is between us."
Sophia’s bitter laugh grated on my nerves. "Oh, defending your precious ex-Luna now?"
"She was my chosen mate and best friend long before you returned—"
"She’s nothing now!" Sophia’s voice turned feral. "She carries another wolf’s pup and wants nothing to do with you! Why can’t you see she’s moved on?"
Her eyes filled with tears again. The guilt of putting her in this situation attacked me again. Wanting to comfort her, I calmed down and tried to touch her face, but she stepped back and began unbuttoning her blouse.
"If Kyra’s truly not the problem," she challenged, "then claim me properly. Give me your heir tonight."
"No!" Alaric howled in protest. The thought of marking Sophia while Kyra’s scent still haunted me made my wolf recoil.
"You’re just angry—" I tried to reason.
"We already fucked countless times while she was away!" Sophia screamed. "Now, you won’t even touch me just because she came back? If you’re really not seeing her, make love to me. I want to be pregnant, Nathan. I want to carry your pup!"
I pressed my lips together and shook my head. Without another word, I walked past her, leaving her in the kitchen. I was heading toward the bedroom when I heard her screaming my name, followed by her painful cries.
I had another woman in my heart. I couldn’t bear to touch Sophia again because every time I kissed her, Kyra’s face always appeared in my mind. This was driving me crazy, but I guessed fate was getting back at me for hurting Kyra before.
The next morning, Sophia’s absence brought temporary relief. At the office, I buried myself in pack business until my father stormed in, his Alpha aura crackling with fury.
"What in the Goddess’s name have you done?" He slammed surveillance photos onto my desk—me outside Kyra’s apartment, me watching her from a distance like some stalker.
Alaric cowered at the sight. "Caught," he whined.
"Meeting your discarded Luna in secret?" Father’s voice dropped dangerously low. "You agreed to dissolve the mating bond. Now you trail after her like some creep stalker?"
"These mean nothing—"
"NOTHING?" His fist shattered the edge of my desk. Through the glass walls, I saw pack members scattering from the show of Alpha dominance.
"The press took these photos, Nathan! Are you really that desperate for women that you want to fuck two at once?"
"Don’t talk like that about Kyra, Dad. She’s not doing anything. We met by accident, and it’s just common courtesy to greet—"
He laughed mirthlessly. "Not with your ex-Luna, bastard! Did you see the sales report this month? You realize you’re failing your duty as the Executive, right? This is all because you’re losing focus and acting like a fool!"
I had no defense. The numbers didn’t lie. I was fully aware of that.
"Fix this," he commanded, his Alpha compulsion pressing down on me. I looked away.
"Attend the upcoming charity gala to clean your name. Bring your fiancée—and don’t you dare meet with your ex-Luna again. I will make you regret it if you drag the company through the dirt."
His golden eyes flashed wolf. "I’ll strip your Alpha title myself. Mark my words."
